WWE Vintage Collection Report: 24th August 2008
By Shaun Best-Rajah.com Reporter
Hosted by: Mean Gene Okerlund
Welcome aboard. Surprisingly, we’re continuing with the SummerSlam theme this week, which is an unexpected bonus. Today we cram in some highlights and lowlights from SummerSlams ’93, ’94 & ’95. There are five matches to get to, so let’s get to it. Joining Vince McMahon on commentary, is Bobby Heenan for the 1993 portion, while Jerry Lawler is in the booth for ’94 & ’95.
SummerSlam 1995
Hunter Hearst Helmsley vs Bob “Spark Plugg” Holly
These are two of the WWE’s most tenuous superstars. Helmsley has been around 13 years, Holly, 15. Helmsley had not long debuted and was unbeaten, while Holly was doing a goofy race car driver gimmick. Both men were making their SummerSlam debuts. We pick this up with an abdominal stretch exchange. Helmsley hiptosses Holly out of the ring. Holly counters a backbodydrop with a DDT, then Helmsley’s backbreaker with a dropkick. Helmsley charges into an inverted atomic drop. Holly delivers a clothesline, backbodydrop and dropkick. Helmsley tries to beg off, but Holly continues to pound on him. Holly Irish whips and attempts a second backbodydrop, Helmsley puts on the brakes and counters with the Pedigree for the 1-2-3. Post match, Helmsley bows over the fallen Holly as Helmsley’s posh aristocratic music plays. Here is Your Winner: HUNTER HEARST HELMSLEY. With less muscle mass on show, both men moved around a lot quicker than they do now. It was also funny seeing the now- bald Holly, sporting a brown mullet.
SummerSlam 1993
Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase vs Razor Ramon
This was DiBiase’s final WWF appearance as an active wrestler. Okerlund cited a neck injury that even money couldn’t repair as the reason for DiBiase’s pending retirement. Going into the match, DiBiase was angry at Razor for costing him a match against the 1-2-3 Kid, after DiBiase had failed to buy Kid off. Of course, DiBiase got his protege at the second time of asking, exactly two years later when the Million Dollar corporation was around, but that’s another story. Razor was on the cusp of the Kliq and was riding high as a fan favourite. He actually seemed motivated here, which was something he lacked in later years, particularly in WCW and in his second WWE stint. DiBiase stalls for time at the start by taking a walk. DiBiase gets some early shots in. Razor responds with a series of clotheslines, with the third and final one taking DiBiase over the top rope to the floor. Razor brings DiBiase back in the hard way, then taunts him with money gestures, as DiBiase cowers. DiBiase suckers Razor in, long enough to grab the tights and yank him head first into the corner. DiBiase goes to work, raking Razor’s face across the top rope, before choking him on the mat with his hands. DiBiase sends Razor into a backelbow, then delivers a backbreaker, clothesline and snapmare. Razor elbows out of a chinlock, before getting caught with a knee to the gut. DiBiase delivers a swinging neckbreaker and vertical suplex. DiBiase signals for the Million Dollar Dream. Razor avoids getting caught and hits a desperation clothesline. DiBiase sends Razor’s head into the corner. Razor takes a tumble through the ropes. DiBiase removes the padding on the top turnbuckle. Razor puts the brakes on and DiBiase’s head meets the exposed steel. Razor takes advantage to deliver the Razor’s Edge for the 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: RAZOR RAMON. DiBiase was made to look strong in his swansong and he carried Razor to a good showing.
SummerSlam 1994
Women’s Title: Alundra Blayze vs Bull Nakano w/Luna Vachon
We pick this up with Nakano working over Blayze’s back with a modified surfboard maneuver. Luna snaps Blayze’s head across the top rope behind the referee’s back. Blayze surprises Nakano with a schoolboy. Nakano comes right back at Blayze and sits on her with a wristlock. Blayze retaliates with three takedowns, but Blayze can’t lift Nakano for a powerbomb. Nakano easily counters with a backbodydrop. Nakano slams, Blayze bridges out of a cover attempt and misses a clothesline. Nakano quickly takes advantage to land a clothesline of her own. Nakano Irish whips, Blayze steps over a charge and backslides Nakano for a nearfall. Nakano catches Blayze coming off the ropes with a powerbomb for a near fall of her own. Nakano slams, before missing a top rope legdrop. Blayze kicks Luna off the apron, and german suplexes Nakano for the 1-2-3. Here is Your Winner: ALUNDRA BLAYZE. Good fast paced action, reminiscent of the TNA knockouts more than today’s WWE Divas. The crowd were into Blayze, who at this point was the torch carrier for the small Women’s Division. WWF imported larger Japanese women for Blayze to go up against. These were normally seconded by hated managers like Harvey Wippleman and Luna Vachon to give Blayze some additional heat in her matches. As we all know, Blayze pissed away all the hard work she did to get Women’s wrestling back on the map, when she defected to WCW in late 1995. Given her acrimonious departure, I’m surprised this match was shown. Looks like it’s just Ultimate Warrior who’s receiving the they-were-never-here treatment.
SummerSlam 1993
Rest in Peace Match (No QD No Count Out)
The Undertaker vs Giant Gonzalez w/Harvey Wippleman
WCW’s El Gigante, aka Giant Gonzalez, first shown up at the 1993 Royal Rumble, to terrorize the Undertaker and fans alike. This was Gonzalez’s last WWF appearance. During 1993, somewhere in India, a young Great Khali was taken in by Gonzalez’s aura. In the weeks leading up to SummerSlam, Wippleman had possession of Undertaker’s urn after Gonzalez had attacked Paul Bearer. This led fans to believe that the Undertaker was weakened mentally, going into the bout. The action starts with both exchanging generic punch/kick offense. Gonzalez takes control on the outside, ramming Undertaker into the ring steps and hitting a couple of chair shots. As Gonzalez continues to plod along, the Undertaker’s gong goes off. Low and behold, Paul Bearer makes his way out with a black wreath. The crowd pop for Bearer’s entrance, then pop again, once Bearer takes Wippleman out. Bearer is reunited with his urn. Gonzalez stares a hole through Bearer. Undertaker channels the urn’s powers to rise up and stagger Gonzalez with several shots.Undertaker finally takes Gonzalez down with a top rope flying clothesline, which is enough for the 1-2-3. Thank god this is over. Horrendously bad and boring. Here is Your Winner: THE UNDERTAKER. After the match, Bearer places the wreath on a stand next to the fallen Gonzalez. Despite sucking as a contest, maybe this match wasn’t the most appropriate to air, given Gonzalez’s recent critical health problems, back home in his native Argentina.
SummerSlam 1994
Steel Cage Match-WWF Title
Bret “Hitman” Hart vs Owen Hart
This was a culmination of sorts from the year’s hottest feud. These two would have many more matches before reconciling three years later, but not under the Main Event spotlight both enjoyed here. The final 15 minutes of the match air. Also, the classic old-school blue cage is on display. All the Hart family members are in the crowd watching. Bret back suplexes Owen off the cage. Owen tries to soften up Bret’s leg with kicks. Bret brings Owen out of the corner with a running bulldog. Both men go through a sequence of repeatedly pulling the other back in, just when they’re about to crawl out of the cage. Owen throws Bret off the top rope. Bret pulls Owen back over the cage, just when it looks like Owen’s got over. Both men jostle on the top rope. Owen punches Bret down, swats him with his boot then connects with a missile dropkick. Owen nips up and almost scrambles out. Both brothers end up going at it on the cage before both take a tumble. A concerned Stu and Helen Hart are seen looking on. Bret counters a piledriver with a backbodydrop. Bret applies a side headlock. Both brothers crash into the other when Bret attempts a shoulder tackle. Bret superplexes Owen off the top of the cage. Owen pulls Bret away from the cage door and applies the Sharpshooter. Bret hooks Owen’s foot to trip him and reverse the move. Owen recovers enough to pull Bret back over the cage by the hair. Both men take a hard back-of-the-head bump to the mat. Owen and Bret climb again and both go over the cage. As both battle near the arena floor, Bret sends Owen’s head into the cage. As Owen hangs, trapped upside down, with his foot caught in the cage, Bret jumps down to retain his title. A classic cage match brilliantly executed. A true contender for 1994 Match of the Year. Here is Your Winner: BRET “HITMAN” HART. Post match sees Owen’s ally, the Anvil, blindside British Bulldog who was in Bret’s corner. After Bret is put back in the cage, Anvil locks it shut with a chain. Owen and Anvil beat on Bret and stop the remaining Hart brothers from getting in. Finally, the Bulldog climbs over the cage and referees use bolt cutters to open the cage door. Owen and Anvil bail, as the remaining Hart brothers pour into the cage to celebrate Bret’s victory.
Okerlund wraps things up to end the show.
Best match: Bret Hart vs Owen Hart.
Worst match: The Undertaker vs Giant Gonzalez.
Show verdict: Thumbs up. The Harts and the Women’s match were the highlights for me this week. There’s lots more good matches from these three SummerSlams to feature, so hopefully 93, 94 and 95 get another airing next week.
See you next weekend. Shaun.
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